A roundup of classic Showa-era kayō songs: a comprehensive introduction to timeless tracks loved across generations.
Songs released in the Showa era—what we call Showa kayokyoku—are truly full of timeless masterpieces!
If you’re an adult born in the Showa period, you probably know just how wildly popular Showa kayokyoku was with the entire nation back then.
Meanwhile, even for younger people born in the Heisei era and later, there are still plenty of Showa kayokyoku songs you hear all the time today, and I’m sure many of you can sing quite a few of them without looking at the lyrics.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of Showa kayokyoku classics that have continued to be loved across generations.
Take this opportunity to listen again with fresh ears and immerse yourself fully in the world of kayokyoku.
- Showa-era nostalgic songs: Popular ranking
- Showa-era masterpieces roundup: A must-listen collection of nostalgic oldies and hit songs
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- Showa-era kayōkyoku: hit songs by male singers, classic masterpieces of Japanese popular music.
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- Just listening to it purifies the heart... A healing song born in the Showa era.
- A collection of iconic, cool Showa-era kayōkyoku classics sung by male vocalists
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- [Nostalgic Hits] Smash Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists
- [For Seniors] Popular Kayōkyoku: A Collection of Classic Songs Perfect for Karaoke and Background Music Selection
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1960s. A collection of popular Showa-era classic melodies.
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
Showa Kayō Masterpieces: A Comprehensive Introduction to Beloved Songs That Transcend Time (81–90)
The arrival of springKoyanagi Rumiko
A classic whose gentle melody, wrapped in the warmth of spring, resonates deep in the heart.
The lyrics are memorable for their portrayal of a girl’s joy at inviting her boyfriend to her home for the first time and her warm interactions with her family.
The detailed scenes—like the couple’s footprints left on the sandy beach and the family’s smiles as they bring tea—are especially charming.
Released in February 1973 as Rumiko Koyanagi’s seventh single, it reached No.
4 on the weekly Oricon chart.
It’s a song I hope those experiencing new meetings and farewells with the arrival of spring will listen to.
It’s sure to warm your heart.
cherry blossom frontKoyanagi Rumiko
A delicate cherry blossom blooming in a sunlit patch, like a melody that stays close to a traveler’s heart.
Rumiko Koyanagi’s gentle, bittersweet voice paints a picture of new beginnings with the arrival of spring.
Released in January 1976, this work weaves together, with subtlety, scenes from journeys across Japan and the shifting emotions within.
Many will see themselves in the lyrics, where thoughts of what has been lost intersect with hopes for a new season.
A song that keeps you company, best heard when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Whether you’re setting out on a new path or feeling the loneliness of loss, it will surely be a powerful companion.
The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko
This song, which was Rumiko Koyanagi’s breakthrough hit, portrays the many emotions of a young woman leaving the island where she was born and raised to marry on the mainland.
It overflows with the strength of love that pushes aside the anxieties of youth, the gentle, sisterly guidance she gives her younger brother, and above all, the hope of living together with the one she loves.
Town of Snow LightsKoyanagi Rumiko
Under the slogan “Discover Japan,” Rumiko Koyanagi debuted with “My Castle Town,” and later scored a huge hit with “The Bride of Seto.” In that era, many lyrics modeled the image of Japanese women who endured quietly, and this classic conveys the feeling of waiting in a snowy country for someone who has gone far away.
The kado-maki mentioned at the beginning of the song is a women-only cold-weather garment made of blanket fabric, used mainly in the Tohoku region.
Embraced by the wintry windKoizumi Kyoko
This is Kyoko Koizumi’s 20th single, written and composed by Toshihiko Takamizawa.
It was also the theme song for the film “Don’t Touch My Girl,” in which she starred, and it became a hit, ranking 7th on Oricon’s annual chart for 1987.
Even though she was so cute (or maybe because she was?), I loved how Kyon Kyon’s TV comments were always natural and never ingratiating, even back then.
She’s still as beautiful as ever, and I think what’s wonderful about Kyon Kyon is that she doesn’t pander to public opinion.
Mischief of the spring breezeYamaguchi Momoe
A classic Showa-era song suffused with poignancy and fragility.
Momoe Yamaguchi’s clear, translucent voice beautifully conveys the feelings of a girl who, after quarreling with her lover, is overcome by loneliness.
Released in March 1974, the song reached No.
11 on the Oricon charts and was also included on the album “15-sai no Theme: Momoe no Kisetsu.” Its lyrics strikingly depict the complex emotions of a girl in love as spring arrives.
The solitude and anxiety after a fight, and the longing for her lover, ride on the spring breeze to reach listeners’ hearts.
Highly recommended for those troubled by love or anyone wishing to feel the arrival of spring.
Compilation of classic Showa-era kayōkyoku hits: a comprehensive showcase of timeless songs loved across generations (91–100)
I’m in trouble.Yamamoto Rinda
Sung with a cute, slightly lisping delivery, this song—Linda Yamamoto’s debut single—features a brisk tempo and striking rhythm.
It may come as a surprise that Minoru Endo, who counted some of the greatest Showa-era stars among his protégés, handled not only the composition but also the lyrics.